Rodriguez, age 53, is a Laredo native who received her law degree from St. Mary’s University School. She has served on the 4th Court of Appeals since 2018. Previously Rodriguez worked as an Assistant District Attorney and had a legal practice focused on criminal defense and family law.
Hear from the candidate
Please tell voters about yourself.
I am 53 years old, was born and raised in Laredo, Texas and have four brothers. I have
lived in San Antonio since attending law school over 30 years ago. I have a son and
daughter who attend NW Vista College and UTSA, respectively. Although I never had
any interest in running for political office, after ten years at the District Attorney’s office
I was encouraged to run for judge of a criminal county court. I felt that my experience
and compassion would bring a valuable perspective to the bench. In 2010 with limited
campaign experience and very modest funds, I ran against a 16-year incumbent and
won my first election as the Judge of Bexar County Court at Law #8. After losing my bid
for re-election, by the slightest of margins, four years later another opportunity emerged to run for an even higher court, the Fourth Court of Appeals. This court encompassed 32 counties in south Texas, including my hometown of Laredo. Although this race presented a greater challenge, it was a chance worth taking. I am now honored to serve as the first justice on the Fourth Court of Appeals, born and raised in Laredo, Texas.
Describe your educational background.
I am a proud product of the Laredo public school system. I graduated from J.W. Nixon
High School, Laredo Junior College, University of North Texas and St. Mary’s Law
School.
Describe your professional experience, what type of law you’ve practiced and
noteworthy accomplishments.
In my almost 28 years as a licensed attorney, I have served as an assistant district attorney, court administrator, criminal defense attorney, family law practitioner, ad-
litem attorney, criminal trial court judge and appellate court justice. My hands-on experience in criminal and family law has been invaluable in my role as an appellate
court justice, particularly considering the high number of appeals involving these areas.
I have tried hundreds of cases to jury verdict as an attorney and as a judge. My many
years of experience in the courtroom have prepared me well for handling appeals.
Perhaps one of my proudest accomplishments was founding the first Bexar County
problem-solving court targeting repeat driving while intoxicated (DWI) offenders. This
endeavor went above and beyond my regular court docket. It incorporated mandatory treatment, and offender accountability through a strict form of community supervision
following the ten key components of the nationally recognized drug court model.
In May of 2023, I was honored to receive the first ever Al Alonzo Therapeutic Justice
Award for “vision, leadership and compassion.” Seeing firsthand how problem-solving
courts change lives has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.
Problem solving courts are one of the few things in our criminal justice system that are
evidence-based, proven to be effective in reducing recidivism, and receive bipartisan
support.
Why are you seeking this office and why did you decide to be a candidate in the
political party you chose?
I have always enjoyed reading and that, combined with my curiosity about different
areas of the law, made the appellate court position an attractive option. Also, the court
was not comprised of members with significant criminal law experience. Because
almost half the appeals considered by the court involve criminal law matters, I believed
I would provide a valuable perspective. The impending retirement of Justice Karen
Angelini presented an opportunity for me to run for an open position.
Although partisanship has no place in our courtrooms, judicial elections in Texas,
unlike other states, are partisan. I chose to run as a Democrat because in my opinion, it is the party with the “largest umbrella.” I feel it recognizes the value of every individual and is committed to ensuring everyone enjoys the same protections and opportunities. It has often been described as the “party of the people.”
Throughout my career and in every position I have held, I have been a committed
public servant. There are no lawyers or judges in my family. I have earned every
position through hard work, grit, and perseverance. As a judge our decisions are
guided by the law, not politics. I would be honored to continue my public service on the court.
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